Acoustic reflector

• US 8,442,242 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harwood, Ronald Paul
• Original Assignee: Harwood, Ronald Paul
• Inventors: Harwood, Ronald Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diaz, Sabrina
• Application Number:
  US12/888,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20120076328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 381/160, 381/334, 381/337, 381/345, 381/352, 381/386, 181/176, 181/198, 181/191
• US Class Current: 381/160
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/28 using reflection, e.g. parabolic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers

Abstract

A speaker assembly is provided with a speaker and a reflector spaced apart from the speaker. The reflector faces the speaker. The reflector has a central region and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lobes. Each lobe extends radially outward from the central region for reflecting acoustic vibrations from the speaker radially outboard from the reflector. Gaps are provided between the lobes for permitting acoustic vibrations to pass through the gaps.

Claims

1. A speaker assembly comprising:

a speaker; and

a reflector spaced apart from and facing the speaker, the reflector having a central region;

wherein the central region is generally convex;

wherein the speaker assembly further comprises a housing having a resonating chamber mounted to and in cooperation with the speaker such that pressure from the speaker is reflected from the central region to the speaker to amplify movement of the speaker and increase low frequency response; and

wherein the central region of the reflector is generally hemispherical with at least one annular recess formed within the generally hemispherical central region for reflecting acoustic vibrations past and outboard from the reflector.

2. The speaker assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced lobes, each extending radially outward from the central region for reflecting acoustic vibrations from the speaker radially outboard from the reflector while providing gaps between the lobes for permitting acoustic vibrations to pass therethrough.

3. The speaker assembly of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of lobes has a generally uniform size;

wherein the plurality of lobes are equally spaced apart angularly; and

wherein an angular thickness of each lobe is generally equal to an angular spacing between the lobes.

4. The speaker assembly of claim 1 wherein an acoustic reflective surface within a perimeter of the at least one annular recess, reflects the pressure back to the speaker.

5. The speaker assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing mounted to the speaker; and

a series of supports connecting the housing and the reflector, the supports being spaced circumferentially about the housing for providing openings between the supports for an outlet of the reflected acoustic vibrations.

6. The speaker assembly of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced lobes, each extending radially outward from the central region for reflecting acoustic vibrations from the speaker radially outboard from the reflector while providing gaps between the lobes for permitting acoustic vibrations to pass therethrough, wherein each of the series of supports is aligned with one of the lobes.

7. A media assembly comprising:

a structural support; and

a speaker assembly according to claim 1 mounted upon the support.

8. The media assembly of claim 7 wherein the speaker is directed towards an underlying support surface.

9. The media assembly of claim 7 wherein the structural support further comprises a structural pole.

10. The media assembly of claim 7 wherein the structural support is sized to orient the speaker assembly at a height above an average ear height.

11. The media assembly of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced lobes, each extending radially outward from the central region for reflecting acoustic vibrations from the speaker radially outboard from the reflector while providing gaps between the lobes for permitting acoustic vibrations to pass therethrough, wherein the lobes extend radially outboard of the structural support.

12. The media assembly of claim 7 wherein the structural support has a cross-section that does not extend radially outboard beyond the central region of the reflector.

13. The speaker assembly of claim 1 wherein a ratio of an overall diameter of an acoustic reflective surface of the reflector to a diameter of the speaker is approximately 1.5 to 1.

14. The speaker assembly of claim 1 wherein a ratio of an overall diameter of an acoustic reflective surface of the reflector to a diameter of the central region is approximately 1.4 to 1.

15. The speaker assembly of claim 1 wherein a ratio of a diameter of an acoustic reflective surface of the reflector to a distance between the speaker and a peak of the central region of the reflector is approximately 2.2 to 1.

16. The speaker assembly of claim 1 wherein a ratio of a diameter of the speaker to a distance between the speaker and a peak of the central region of the reflector is approximately 1.4 to 1.

17. The speaker assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one annular recess comprises a pair of annular recesses.

18. A media assembly comprising:

a structural support;

a housing mounted to the support;

a speaker mounted to the housing;

a series of support arms extending from the housing, the support arms being spaced circumferentially about the housing for providing openings between the support arms for an outlet of acoustic vibrations; and

a reflector mounted to the series of support arms spaced apart from and facing the speaker, the reflector having a central region and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lobes, each extending radially outward from the central region for reflecting acoustic vibrations from the speaker radially outboard from the reflector while providing gaps between the lobes for permitting acoustic vibrations to pass therethrough, wherein each of the series of supports is aligned with one of the lobes.

19. The media assembly of claim 18 further comprising

a light assembly mounted to one of the structural support, the housing, the series of support arms and the reflector for conveying light to an underlying region.

20. The media assembly of claim 19 wherein the speaker is oriented between the reflector and the light assembly.